By Tuck Thompson - August 14, 2006

EIGHT mayors opposed to the construction of Traveston Dam will pay for a study seeking other water solutions.

One of Australia’s leading water resource planners, Dr Stuart White of the University of Technology in Sydney, has been recruited to propose options.

“We think there are better ways than a dam. We think this decision was made in a hurry. If we don’t get rainfall, what good is a dam?” said Maryborough Mayor Barbara Hovard, who joined with counterparts in Hervey Bay, Maryborough, Tiaro, Woocoo, Cooloola, Kilkivan, Noosa, Maroochy.

Shires downstream of the dam site were worried increased siltation could harm the Great Sandy Strait, she said.

“We want to leave our river in as good as state as possible. We don’t want to ruin it forever, which is what the dam will do.”

Under its emergency powers, the state could cut off all water releases from the dam, said Noosa Mayor Bob Abbot.

Mr Abbot said Premier Peter Beattie was determined to build the dam and only a fact-filled study would change his mind.

“We want to show there are far better options when you do a triple bottom line analysis. My council is 100 per cent against the dam,” he said